School video going viral

Tuesday, April 21st, 2015 - St Catherine's School, Waverley

A ground breaking school video aimed at ‘sharing the love’ is going viral.

Over a thousand girls took part in the filming at St Catherine’s School in Sydney at the start of the new school year to encourage bonding and the activity was based on research that shows student connectedness is strongly related to wellbeing and academic success*.

In just over 24 hours since its release it has reached 30-thousand people in Australia, Europe and the US, more than 12 thousand have engaged with it and interest shows no sign of slowing.

Unusually the star of Love School is not a student, but the School’s famous red duffle coat. It was worn by each girl from Kindergarten to Year 12 as they performed a series of moves to a Strauss waltz throughout the School. The colour helped create the magnificent finale where a drone camera rose high into the air revealing the girls gathered in a huge heart shape on the netball court.

The video, produced by Sydney filmmakers Ferris Films, is unlike any other school video. Producer Matt Barber said he was attracted to the project because St Catherine’s had a bold and innovative vision. “From the beginning it was clear St Catherine’s wanted a film that would really make a statement about the School; which not only involved all the girls but also represented what it was like to be part of this unique institution,” he said. “And we think it’s turned out to be a really poetic and moving film that resonates with everyone and even brings a tear to some eyes!”

Headmistress Dr Julie Townsend said it gets to the heart of what the St Catherine’s community is all about. “Love School encapsulates the strong sense of cohesion, interdependence and optimism that epitomises the St Catherine’s community. Our girls take those strengths with them as they move into the wider world and each make their unique contribution.”

“We had no idea how it would turn out but it is amazing,” Head Girl Grace Shipway said. “And it truly embodies St Catherine's as a place not solely to gain an academic education, but to have a sense of belonging and love.”

Girls over the age of 13 and families are encouraged to ‘share the love’ by liking and sharing it on Facebook page, YouTube Twitter and Instagram. See the video: http://goo.gl/APAoyN

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St Catherine’s School, Waverley is Australia’s oldest independent, Anglican girls’ school and develops critical and reflective thinkers who will shape society as outstanding women and leaders.

Our K-12 day and boarding students learn in world class facilities framed by ancient magnolia trees. We are truely non-selective and our students come from all backgrounds and faiths.

St Catherine's is a pioneer in developing its one-to-one ICT for Learning and positive psychology programs and in 2014 over half of our Year 12 students were acknowledged as distinguished achievers, scoring 90 or above in one or more of their HSC courses.